Rivera wrote in his book, released Tuesday, that he’d take Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia over anybody at the position, including longtime teammate Robinson Cano, when it comes to winning one game. Rivera’s reasoning centers on Pedroia’s passion and Cano’s lack of drive.

Go figure.

Rivera’s praise for Pedroia is unsurprising, even though the two competed against each other for eight years as part of baseball’s fiercest rivalry. Pedroia seemingly has earned as much respect among his biggest adversaries as he has among his Red Sox teammates since breaking into the majors in 2006.

Rivera’s criticism for Cano, on the other hand, is interesting given the nine years in which they shared a clubhouse in the Bronx. But once one gets beyond the pure notion of Rivera calling out one of his former teammates, is the longtime Yankees closer’s “revelation” really anything groundbreaking? Hasn’t the better part of a decade — particularly the last year-plus — revealed this same information?

If a player’s value is measured by the size of his contract, his natural talent or his overall potential, Cano is in a league of his own. He’s widely considered the most skilled second baseman in baseball, both offensively and defensively, and the 31-year-old undoubtedly is among the game’s best all-around players despite his slow start to the 2014 season.

But Cano always has featured a nonchalant demeanor — fairly or unfairly creating a sense he doesn’t career all that much — and his obnoxious contract demands before signing with the Seattle Mariners last offseason only heightened the skepticism surrounding his true motives.

If a player’s value is measured by his level of commitment, his tenacity and his determination, Pedroia represents the truly elite and the one guy you want manning second base with the season on the line — no ifs, ands or buts. No motivational concerns ever have surrounded Pedroia, who took a massive hometown discount last season to stay in Boston for the foreseeable future, and it’s fairly obvious to anyone who spends any time around the Red Sox that his work ethic is second to none.

“Pedroia is a great player. You definitely want to mirror the way he’s played the game,” 24-year-old Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said last week at Fenway Park.

Bradley’s comments weren’t really newsworthy, largely because they were right in line with virtually everything that’s ever been said about the Red Sox second baseman. But if you dive a little deeper into the young outfielder’s words, it shows exactly where the line is drawn between Pedroia and Cano.

While Cano represents what every young player wants to be from a talent perspective, Pedroia represents what every young player should strive to be from a competitive standpoint. Pedroia’s talent is gravy on top of his grit and desire to be the best.

Rivera’s comments about Pedroia and Cano are important, particularly given his stature in MLB history. They don’t have too much shock value, though, because they line up perfectly with some widespread preconceived notions.

David Ortiz on Sunday signed a one-year contract extension with the Red Sox that also includes a club/vesting option for 2016 and a club option for 2017. The deal, a necessary move by the Red Sox for several reasons, likely will keep Ortiz in Boston for the rest of his career while also eliminating the headaches that come with resolving the slugger’s annual contract impasses.

Ortiz, who has re-upped six times since signing as a free agent before the 2003 season, is no stranger to being vocal about his contract. That has created an annual event throughout Boston in which Ortiz’s agent, Fern Cuza, is as synonymous with February and March as Punxsutawney Phil, Cupid and whatever generic leprechaun you want to toss out there.

In some ways, it’s understandable for Ortiz to worry about his contract. Ortiz, in the grand scheme of things, has been underpaid compared to Major League Baseball’s other premier power hitters, and he’s not getting any younger. Who could blame a guy for wanting some financial security as he approaches the end of his career?

Yet in other ways, the annual contract talks have been a nuisance, often serving as a distraction at a time when Ortiz still is under contract for the upcoming season. Surely, you could call any local radio station, complain about Ortiz’s complaints and not hear any complaints about you complaining about his complaints. (Yeah, that’s how head-spinning things can get.)

But for all the agonizing about Ortiz’s future, both he and the Red Sox wanted nothing more than to continue baseball’s most productive relationship — all things considered — under fair contractual terms. The parties finally agreed to those terms Sunday, meaning the book, in all likelihood, officially is closed on the annual Ortiz contract hoopla.

The book on Ortiz’s career, however, still is wide open, which ultimately trumps everything when explaining the logic behind the Red Sox giving at least one more guaranteed year to a 38-year-old DH. One can argue whether Ortiz actually would have considered signing elsewhere or whether the newfound peace of mind will benefit both the player and the team, but one doesn’t have a leg to stand on when questioning Ortiz’s overall impact on the Red Sox’s lineup.

Ortiz isn’t just a three-time World Series champion being handed a new deal based on previous accomplishments. He’s coming off a season in which he hit .309 with 30 homers, 103 RBIs and a .949 OPS before bringing his game to another level in the playoffs. While owner John Henry’s comments Sunday suggest Ortiz’s longstanding relationship with the city of Boston was a factor in negotiations, the Red Sox also made an excellent business decision by locking up one of baseball’s most productive power hitters.

No one in Boston is going to miss the annual Big Papi contract sagas. But nearly everyone, especially the Red Sox, would have missed the longtime face of the franchise if he bolted after 2014.

Ellsbury’s skill set is unique, and the Red Sox don’t have any internal options capable of replicating his dynamism atop the order. But while it’s reasonable to expect an adjustment period, Shane Victorino remains the most logical choice to begin the season as Boston’s leadoff hitter.

Farrell has pointed to Victorino and Daniel Nava as potential leadoff solutions now that Ellsbury is playing for the New York Yankees. Both are rational options, largely because of their on-base ability, and it’s entirely possible that Farrell will install a leadoff platoon — Victorino versus left-handed pitchers and Nava versus right-handed pitchers. Victorino’s speed and, more importantly, experience should give him the upper hand in the conversation, though.

Victorino has led off 216 times in his career, hitting .249 with a .317 on-base percentage in 1,010 plate appearances out of the top spot. He owns a .235 average and .292 on-base percentage in his 216 game-opening plate appearances.

Those numbers don’t jump off the page, particularly when stacked up against Victorino’s career .277 average and .342 on-base percentage, or his .289 average and .352 on-base percentage out of his traditional No. 2 spot. But, even despite last season’s hamstring issues, Victorino is the Red Sox’ biggest stolen-base threat sans Ellsbury. Nava’s potential upside as a leadoff hitter isn’t enough to justify moving Victorino down at least three spots in the order. (It sounds like Farrell is considering Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli in spots two, three, four, respectively.)

Nava has made 35 starts as a leadoff hitter in his career, hitting .252 with a .343 on-base percentage in 170 career plate appearances out of the top spot. Nava is an .097 hitter (3-for-31) with a .200 on-base percentage in 35 game-opening plate appearances, though, which isn’t exactly conducive to a Red Sox offense that ranked second in the majors last season with 0.64 first-inning runs per game.

Victorino being a better leadoff fit isn’t all about his personal ability or Nava’s potential shortcomings, either. Nava’s most valuable trait last season was his versatility, both offensively and defensively. If Farrell prefers to minimize the amount of moving parts within his top four by installing an everyday leadoff hitter rather than a platoon, it would be wise not to pigeonhole Nava, instead allowing him to bounce around between spots five through nine. Plus, Nava projects to split time with Jonny Gomes in left field, so he’ll be absent from the starting lineup much more frequently than Victorino to begin with.

Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts are other potential leadoff options to consider later in the year, but don’t expect either to be the first Red Sox hitter at the dish on Opening Day. The Sox will want to see what they have in the two rookies, and Bogaerts projects more as a middle-of-the-order type, anyway.

Perhaps this is just making a mountain out of a molehill, as a platoon situation atop the order could work, even if the production doesn’t mirror Ellsbury’s 2013 output. But if Farrell wants a certain sense of stability and the luxury of knowing who his top four are each day he arrives at the ballpark, Victorino is the obvious choice to lead off.

The Red Sox don’t need to make a decision right now regarding Ortiz’s contract, which expires after the 2014 season. But the slugger is seeking a multiyear deal, and the club should consider offering an extension sooner rather than later.

Ortiz said Sunday that while he’d like to retire as a member of the Red Sox, it’s possible that he could play for another team in 2015 and beyond. That’s a pretty substantial demand for a designated hitter who will turn 39 after this season, but the Red Sox would be wise to lock up Ortiz this winter to avoid any potential distractions in 2014.

The Red Sox already are facing a difficult decision regarding Jon Lester, who, like Ortiz, is a free agent after this year. Lester could be the best pitcher available on the free-agent market next offseason, and the Red Sox certainly will need to pony up some cash to keep the lefty around, even though he indicated last week that he’d accept a hometown discount. You can bet that Lester’s future will continue to be a talking point for as long as he remains unsigned or until he signs elsewhere, and it certainly won’t do the Red Sox any favors to have Ortiz’s uncertain future hanging over their heads as well.

Ortiz, who is entering the second year of a two-year contract he signed last offseason, typically is outspoken, and it’s part of what makes him such a fascinating athlete. Big Papi always is willing to say what’s on his mind, and while that’s refreshing in an age when so many athletes go by the book, it also means that his next contract could be a conversation topic for the entire season if he doesn’t sign an extension this offseason. It isn’t exactly the end of the world, but extending Ortiz now rather than next offseason will help keep the focus on on-field matters.

The 2013 Red Sox showed an incredible ability to avoid distractions, which was a stark contrast from 2011 and 2012, when off-the-field drama generated plenty of headlines. Ortiz’s impending free agency might not threaten the status quo too much, but it’s a side bar with the potential to do more harm than good.

Obviously, there are advantages to waiting until next offseason to re-sign Ortiz. While the 38-year-old is coming off a strong 2013 campaign that was capped by a historic World Series performance, he will be another year older and it’s reasonable to expect some regression at some point. The Red Sox might want to wait to see how Ortiz fares this year — his 18th big league season — before making a potentially sizable financial commitment. After all, Ortiz’s value is extremely high right now because of his 2013 performance, so waiting could save the Red Sox a few bucks.

When you get right down to it, though, a contract extension for Ortiz should be inevitable. He has become more than just a feared hitter in the middle of the Red Sox’ order. He is the face of the franchise, and perhaps even the face of Major League Baseball. Those factors should be trumped by on-field production at the negotiating table, but letting Ortiz walk away over a few extra dollars would have serious repercussions.

The Red Sox might need to pay more to lock up Ortiz now, even though Boston would be competing with 29 other teams next offseason for his services. It’s an investment worth making, though, as it will only ensure a smoother future for all parties involved.

The Red Sox announced Wednesday that they have signed Sizemore, who hasn’t played in the majors since 2011, to a one-year contract. Sizemore represents a solid, low-risk, high-reward pickup by the Red Sox, as he’ll likely compete with Jackie Bradley Jr. for the starting center field job during spring training and serve as additional outfield depth if Bradley ultimately gets the nod.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell have expressed total confidence in Bradley’s ability to become Jacoby Ellsbury‘s successor in center field. Bradley will turn just 24 years old in April, though, and his 2013 offensive struggles suggest that major league success in 2014 is not a foregone conclusion. Therefore, adding another center fielder makes all the sense in the world for Boston, and Sizemore is an intriguing option based on his previous big league success with the Cleveland Indians.

Sizemore, once a legitimate five-tool talent, was one of the most productive players in baseball from 2005 to 2008 before injuries sent his career flying off the tracks. He finished in the top-12 in American League MVP voting on three separate occasions, earned three All-Star selections and totaled career-highs in home runs (33), RBIs (90) and stolen bases (38) in 2008, his last full season in the majors.

Sizemore, now 31 years old, has been limited to just 210 games over the last five years because of knee and back surgeries, so expecting a return to MVP-caliber production in 2014 would require wishful thinking to the highest degree. However, a healthy Sizemore — a big “if,” of course — should force Bradley’s hand, as the young prospect now will need to earn a job rather than be handed a job by virtue of the Red Sox not having any other viable center field options.

Before signing Sizemore, the most likely scenario if Bradley struggled would have involved shifting Shane Victorino to center field while using more lineups featuring both Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes. That, obviously, wouldn’t have been an ideal scenario, particularly because of the defensive downgrade. Not only are Nava and Gomes known more for their offensive prowess than their defensive skills, but Victorino also is better-served playing right field, where he performed admirably in 2013.

Sizemore isn’t a perfect fit for the Red Sox, as the two-time Gold Glove winner — in addition to his long list of injury issues — has endured struggles against left-handed pitching. Sizemore boasts a career .288 average and .376 on-base against right-handers, but just a .227 average and .315 on-base percentage versus southpaws, so he’s certainly a flawed platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Bradley. But the remaining free-agent outfield market is extremely thin, particularly as it pertains to right-handed-hitting outfielders capable of playing center field, and Sizemore brings the most upside.

Mike Carp has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, so perhaps Sizemore’s production — or lack thereof — in spring training will dictate each player’s future in Boston. Carp was an excellent contributor for the Red Sox last season, but Nava’s versatility ensures that the Red Sox still will have a serviceable backup first baseman if Carp is dealt in favor of Sizemore.

There are more questions than answers at this point in regards to Sizemore, and it all starts with whether he’s still capable of making an impact in the majors. But the Red Sox just might catch lightning in a bottle, or, at the very least, have a respectable backup center fielder behind Bradley in 2014.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Instant Opinion, MLB Hot Stove, Opinion, Ricky Doyle, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/01/grady-sizemore-a-solid-low-risk-pickup-by-red-sox-that-could-pay-dividends/feed/00Grady SizemorenesnrdoyleMasahiro Tanaka’s Deal With New York Yankees Also Impacts Boston Red Soxhttp://nesn.com/2014/01/masahiro-tanakas-deal-with-new-york-yankees-also-impacts-boston-red-sox/
http://nesn.com/2014/01/masahiro-tanakas-deal-with-new-york-yankees-also-impacts-boston-red-sox/#respondThu, 23 Jan 2014 00:55:41 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=280140Read More »]]>The world can begin rotating again. The Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes finally has concluded, as the Japanese ace has signed a seven-year, $155 million contract with the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are swinging for the fences in 2014, and Tanaka should make New York better despite the inherent risk that comes with signing a high-priced international free agent. But what exactly does Tanaka signing with the Yankees mean for the Boston Red Sox?

First, there’s the obvious. The Yankees’ pitching just got deeper, meaning that the American League East will be an even more difficult division to play in this season. Sure, the Yankees already made improvements this winter by signing free agents Jacoby Ellsbury (seven years, $153 million), Brian McCann (five years, $85 million) and Carlos Beltran (three years, $45 million), among others, but Tanaka addresses New York’s most glaring weakness. Plus, there’s the possibility that the Yankees might continue to dip into the free-agent market now that they’ve surpassed the $189 million luxury tax threshold, which was believed to be hindering their quest to add more impact players.

One player who the Yankees, theoretically, could pursue is Stephen Drew. The Red Sox haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing Drew, but Boston — which extended a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer at the beginning of free agency — appears reluctant to offer a multiyear deal. The Yankees might decide that Drew now makes sense and thus make a strong push to sign the veteran shortstop. Drew certainly would stabilize New York’s infield in 2014, and perhaps even serve as Derek Jeter’s successor in the near future.

Drew is just one possibility, though. The Yankees might decide to pursue additional pitching, whether that be in the form of a starter (like Matt Garza, Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez or Bronson Arroyo) or a reliever (like Grant Balfour or Fernando Rodney). The point is that the Yankees no longer are stuck figuring out whether to exceed the $189 million mark, so they might as well continue to be aggressive.

If there’s one positive for the Red Sox following the Tanaka deal, it’s that the rest of the starting pitching market can finally break out of its holding pattern. While the Red Sox probably won’t make any big splashes, it’s likely that general manager Ben Cherington will receive a few more phone calls regarding his starting pitching surplus now that the Tanaka situation has been resolved. The Red Sox, who are in the enviable position of having six viable major league starters and numerous young starters on the verge of cracking the majors, might even become a focal point for teams that missed out on Tanaka.

Perhaps the most important layer to the Tanaka deal from a Red Sox standpoint is the impact that the pitcher’s contract will have on Jon Lester’s future in Boston. Granted, the two hurlers aren’t exactly intertwined. Tanaka is an unproven 25-year-old right-hander, whereas Lester is a 30-year-old, All-Star southpaw entering his ninth major league season. But as the price for elite starting pitchers continues to soar, so, too, is the price tag on Lester, who is slated to hit free agency next winter. The Red Sox will have an extremely difficult decision to make regarding their ace.

There’s no telling what to expect from Tanaka as he finally joins Major League Baseball. But as the Japanese product gets set to throw on pinstripes, it’s perfectly clear that the ramifications of his deal are wide-ranging, to say the least.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Instant Opinion, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, New York Yankees, Opinion, Ricky Doyle, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/01/masahiro-tanakas-deal-with-new-york-yankees-also-impacts-boston-red-sox/feed/00nesnrdoyleMasahiro TanakaStephen Drew Returning Remains Best-Case Scenario for Red Sox, Beginning to Seem More Likelyhttp://nesn.com/2014/01/stephen-drew-returning-remains-best-case-scenario-for-red-sox-beginning-to-seem-more-likely/
http://nesn.com/2014/01/stephen-drew-returning-remains-best-case-scenario-for-red-sox-beginning-to-seem-more-likely/#respondFri, 03 Jan 2014 17:31:34 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=271193Read More »]]>Stephen Drew can’t be too thrilled about how this offseason has played out. The Boston Red Sox, on the other hand, have every reason to be optimistic.

Sure-handed shortstops with power aren’t easily obtainable, yet Drew remains a free agent and the list of potential suitors has dwindled to the point where a return to Boston is a legitimate possibility. It’s an ideal situation for the Red Sox, although re-signing Drew for one more year remains the best-case scenario.

The Red Sox can afford to be patient with Drew. They have leverage in negotiations because of the scarcity of other suitors, the benefit of adding a draft pick if Drew signs elsewhere and the security of knowing that Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks can be penciled into their Opening Day lineup at shortstop and third base, respectively, regardless of what happens. But while Bogaerts and Middlebrooks could comprise a formidable tandem on the left side of the infield and an extra draft pick would help feed the Red Sox’ already deep farm system, re-signing Drew would go a long way toward maintaining the depth that became the backbone of Boston’s World Series run.

A lot of things went right for the Red Sox in 2013. One area where Boston saw its most dramatic improvement over 2012 — when the club stumbled to a 69-93, last-place finish — was its overall health. Aside from Clay Buchholz’s lengthy hiatus, the Red Sox were able to stay healthy for most of the season. Much of that obviously can be attributed to luck, but the Red Sox’ overall depth enabled John Farrell to keep his players fresh and made it easier for him to weather the storm when the injury bug began its occasional nibble. Having Drew around for 2014 would give Farrell that luxury once again.

The left side of the infield was the Red Sox’ most fluid situation in 2013. Jose Iglesias stormed out of the gate before being traded to the Detroit in the Jake Peavy deal, Middlebrooks struggled mightily to begin the year before earning a demotion and Bogaerts burst onto the scene in August before eventually becoming the club’s everyday third baseman in the playoffs. Brock Holt, Pedro Ciriaco and Brandon Snyder also had their time in The Show. Change wouldn’t come as easily without Drew, though. The Red Sox instead would rely heavily on both Bogaerts and Middlebrooks, which, despite each player’s immense potential, represents somewhat of a gamble.

Middlebrooks hit .231 with a .234 on-base percentage over the first month and a half last season. The 25-year-old then hit .160 (4-for-25) with a .250 on-base percentage and 10 strikeouts in the postseason, paving the way for Bogaerts’ breakout October. There’s a chance Middlebrooks could revert back to his 2012 form, but banking on such is a leap of faith, especially given that the 21-year-old Bogaerts is still developing and that the Red Sox’ offense might regress slightly with Jacoby Ellsbury now donning pinstripes.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said earlier this week that the Bronx Bombers won’t sign Drew, as they already have added infielders Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson in addition to re-signing Brendan Ryan to provide depth behind Derek Jeter. The St. Louis Cardinals signed Jhonny Peralta, the New York Mets have expressed confidence in shortstop Ruben Tejeda and the Minnesota Twins look ready to roll with Pedro Florimon in the middle of their infield. That leaves Drew on the outside looking in as the Red Sox contemplate just how much they value the 30-year-old’s presence.

Drew might have been better off accepting Boston’s one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer and hitting the open market again next offseason, when some teams inevitably will realize they made a mistake by either overlooking Drew in favor of a worse internal option or by ruling out a potential pursuit of the veteran because of the draft-pick compensation attached to him. Then again, we now have the benefit of hindsight, and who could have foreseen the market for Drew — a top-10 shortstop — failing to develop?

For now, Drew and the Red Sox will continue to play the waiting game. It’s a game the Red Sox are positioned to win, although the real victory for Boston would be another year of Drew and a deeper team for its title defense.

MLB Network is determining the “Face of MLB” via a bracket-style tournament, and fans on Twitter were asked Thursday to nominate which player they think is the “Face of the Red Sox.” Not only should Ortiz be considered Boston’s top dog, but you’d also be hard-pressed to find a better “Face of MLB” candidate across the entire league.

Apologies in advance to Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester, but Ortiz is the guy on the Red Sox, and it’s not even close. It’s rare that an athlete entering his late 30s sees his star status rise, especially when that athlete is already a legitimate superstar, but that has been the case with Big Papi. The 38-year-old slugger reached new heights in 2013, as he enjoyed an incredible campaign en route to the Red Sox’ third World Series title in 10 years (with Ortiz an integral part of each championship). Ortiz officially is one of the biggest stars the game has ever seen.

Ortiz’s whirlwind year was capped by one of the most dominant postseason efforts in MLB history. Boston’s longtime designated hitter batted .688 (11-for-16) with two homers, six RBIs, a .760 on-base percentage and a 1.188 OPS in the World Series against the Cardinals. Even though Lester — 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in two World Series starts — deserved co-MVP consideration following the Fall Classic, Ortiz’s performance was a sight to behold and further evidence that he belongs in the Hall of Fame when his illustrious career ends.

It might be a few years before Ortiz hangs up his cleats, though, as the 17-year veteran is still at the top of his game. Ortiz, who is one of baseball’s few true designated hitters, hit .309 with 30 homers and 103 RBIs in 137 regular-season games before embarking on his memorable October run, which, in addition to his dominant World Series, included one of the most iconic home runs in Red Sox history. Ortiz’s grand slam in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Tigers changed the complexion of the series and gave Boston another reason to believe that a championship was inevitable in 2013.

Simply put, Ortiz steps up when it matters most. That is the mark of a special athlete. There are few hitters who opposing teams want to face less than Ortiz, and there are even fewer hitters who opposing teams want to see dig in when the stakes are raised. If Reggie Jackson really is Mr. October, then Ortiz deserves a “Senor Octubre” moniker.

Ortiz’s star status is magnified by his clutch heroics, and his propensity for thriving on the national stage supports his case for being considered the “Face of MLB,” let alone the “Face of the Red Sox.” The nine-time All-Star has become a legitimate celebrity even beyond the baseball realm, however, and his annual golf tournament in the Dominican Republic — now a who’s who event — proves such. Perhaps only Derek Jeter is as recognizable to the most casual of fans, and the Yankees shortstop’s stock has begun to drop amid his diminished production while Ortiz’s stock has risen amid Boston’s return to prominence.

From the wide smile and infectious personality to being as calm, cool and collected as those who frequent red carpets, Ortiz has everything you look for in a superstar. Big Papi is hands down the “Face of the Red Sox.” Soon enough, he might be called the “Face of MLB.”

Masahiro Tanaka officially has hit the open market, and the bidding for the Japanese ace figures to be fierce. The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are among the big-market teams that could pursue Tanaka, and it’s believed the 25-year-old will receive a contract in excess of $100 million. But while the Red Sox have the financial flexibility to be aggressive in the Tanaka sweepstakes, Boston is better off shifting its attention toward Lester’s impending free agency.

Lester is slated to become a free agent next offseason. (He is coming off a five-year, $30 million extension that included a $13 million club option for 2014, which the Red Sox picked up shortly after their World Series victory.) The left-hander, who had a very good 2013 campaign, is in line for a big payday, which means this isn’t an ideal time for the Red Sox to ditch their disciplined free-agency approach, even if Tanaka represents an intriguing option.

General manager Ben Cherington has been reluctant to hand out expensive, long-term contracts to free agents, largely because the Red Sox have regretted such deals in the past. Boston now prefers to sign players to shorter deals, even if it means a higher average annual salary. Signing Lester likely will require that the Red Sox make an exception — similar to their exception for Dustin Pedroia, who received a seven-year, $100 million extension this past season — but locking up the proven southpaw to a long-term deal is a safer play than going all in on Tanaka, who never has thrown a pitch in Major League Baseball.

Tanaka could be the real deal. He went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball last season, and he owns a 99-35 record, 2.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 175 career appearances (172 starts). Plus, at age 25 with just seven professional seasons under his belt, Tanaka is far from damaged goods despite the high pitch counts that often come with pitching in Japan. But while Tanaka is a worthwhile gamble for some big -league teams, the Red Sox, who currently have a surplus of starting pitching, don’t need to make a sizable financial commitment to an unknown commodity.

Perhaps signing Tanaka and re-upping Lester aren’t mutually exclusive, in which case a pursuit of Tanaka this offseason makes a little more sense for Boston than it otherwise would. It’s worth noting, however, that Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are set to become free agents next offseason. There’s a chance that Kershaw and Scherzer will be extended by the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers, respectively, but if signing Lester and another high-priced starter is in Boston’s future, Tanaka isn’t the second hurler the Red Sox should eye.

Tanaka would be a luxury signing for the Red Sox this offseason. There’s no need for that when a more pressing issue and more appealing options are fast approaching.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, Opinion, Ricky Doyle, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/12/jon-lester-contract-extension-should-be-bigger-priority-for-red-sox-than-potential-pursuit-of-masahiro-tanaka/feed/00Jon Lester, Masahiro TanakanesnrdoyleJonathan Herrera Adds Versatility to Red Sox While Boston Deals From Area of Depthhttp://nesn.com/2013/12/jonathan-herrera-adds-versatility-while-allowing-red-sox-to-deal-from-area-of-depth/
http://nesn.com/2013/12/jonathan-herrera-adds-versatility-while-allowing-red-sox-to-deal-from-area-of-depth/#respondThu, 19 Dec 2013 22:34:37 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=266461Read More »]]>The left side of the infield was one of the Red Sox’ most fluid situations in 2013. Adding to the mix for 2014 only makes sense.

The Red Sox on Wednesday acquired utilityman Jonathan Herrera from the Rockies in exchange for relievers Franklin Morales and Chris Martin. The move hardly guarantees that Boston’s infield is fully assembled, especially with the Red Sox reportedly still interested in re-signing Stephen Drew, but Herrera brings an element of versatility that the club otherwise lacked.

Herrera made 45 starts in 2013, including 28 at shortstop, 16 at second base and one at third base. The 29-year-old, who also appeared in two games in left field last season, has appeared in 181 games at second base, 114 at shortstop and 43 at third base over the course of his five-year major league career. Herrera is one of just four major leaguers to appear in at least five games at shortstop, second base and third base in each of the last four seasons, and he figures to wear a number of hats in 2014 as well, making him a nice complement to the Red Sox’ current infield cast at a rather reasonable price.

Perhaps just as important as Herrera’s versatility in the field is that the Venezuelan is a switch-hitter with favorable career splits from the left side of the plate. Herrera is a career .272 hitter with a .337 on-base percentage from the left side and a career .248 hitter with a .295 on-base percentage versus left-handers from the right side. The splits were even more dramatic this past season, as Herrera batted .317 (46-for-145) with a .361 on-base percentage versus right-handed pitching and .220 (11-for-50) with a .264 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching. While such splits aren’t exactly ideal for an everyday switching-hitting infielder, they’ll work well for the Red Sox given that Dustin Pedroia, Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts are all right-handed hitters.

Herrera isn’t a world-beater at the dish, but he’s capable of spelling any of the three aforementioned infielders on a given night. His .312 average (44-for-141) over his final 57 games in 2013 gives reason for optimism offensively, and his sure-handedness in the field despite somewhat limited range should be adequate enough, particularly when you consider the heavy workload that we’re accustomed to seeing from Pedroia. Herrera won’t be asked to play a huge role in 2014, but he’ll bring depth to an area in which Boston needed such. Plus, Herrera has a minor league option remaining, so the Red Sox won’t be pigeonholed into keeping him on the major league roster out of spring training — as they were with Pedro Ciriaco (who was out of options) last year.

The Red Sox’ desire to deal for Herrera might also stem from their willingness to trade away Morales. The left-hander was redundant on a club featuring lefty relievers Craig Breslow and Andrew Miller, and Morales’ ability to serve as a spot starter was no longer the commodity it once was given Boston’s surplus of starting pitchers.

The Red Sox’ real loss in the deal could actually be Martin, a 27-year-old who showed upside at Triple-A last season. But all things considered, the trade is a risk worth taking to improve the club in an area of need.

Only two relievers in baseball issued fewer walks per nine innings than Koji Uehara in 2013. The Red Sox have reportedly signed one of them, as Edward Mujica has agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million deal with Boston, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan.

Mujica’s reported signing strengthens a Boston bullpen that was up and down a bit this past season. Uehara was stellar from start to finish and Craig Breslow was fairly consistent with the exception of a few rocky postseason appearances, but there were other times when the club’s relief corps looked like its Achilles’ heel. As such, general manager Ben Cherington has made it a point to bolster the unit for Boston’s title defense, with Mujica representing a very good signing by the Red Sox, who decided to non-tender Andrew Bailey earlier this week.

Uehara led the American League and ranked third among all major league relievers in issuing 1.09 walks per nine innings in 2013. His willingness and ability to successfully pound the strike zone was remarkable, especially given that his pinpoint control held up down the stretch and into the playoffs despite a career-high workload for the 38-year-old.

Mujica featured even better control than Uehara, if you can believe that. The 29-year-old issued just five walks in 64 2/3 innings — equating to a 0.70 walk rate — in 2013. It was far and away the best mark in baseball, with Pirates reliever (and former Red Sox hurler) Mark Melancon checking in second at 1.01.

The Red Sox’ decision to non-tender Bailey, who figured to garner just north of $4 million through arbitration, made sense given his unclear health status for the upcoming season and his overall ineffectiveness since joining Boston via trade prior to the 2012 season. It makes even more sense with Mujica joining the mix at only a slightly higher average annual salary.

Mujica fell out of favor in St. Louis in 2013 following some late-season struggles. He finished the year with a very respectable 2.78 ERA, but the figure actually ballooned down the stretch. Mujica entered the final month of the regular season with a 1.73 ERA before surrendering nine runs over 7 1/3 innings in September. The Cardinals removed Mujica, who saved 37 games, from the closer’s role in favor of hard-throwing rookie Trevor Rosenthal amid the veteran’s struggles. Mujica only pitched in two postseason games, neither of which came in the World Series.

Mujica’s September collapse is somewhat concerning, although it might be in large part to a lingering back issue that he began dealing with in late August. It is worth noting that Mujica owns a 5.14 ERA (43 earned runs in 75 1/3 innings) in 62 career regular-season appearances in September/October — much higher than his overall career ERA of 3.75. But those concerns should be mitigated by his overall track record, which includes a career 2.79 ERA (three earned runs in 9 2/3 innings) in the postseason.

Despite his late-season demotion from the closer’s role, 2013 marked Mujica’s best season to date. The right-hander put together two decent seasons with the Padres in 2009 and 2010 — 5-6 record, 3.80 ERA over 126 appearances — but his career really took off after he was traded to the Cardinals from the Marlins just prior to the 2012 trade deadline. Mujica posted a 1.03 ERA (three earned runs in 26 1/3 innings) over 29 appearances with St. Louis down the stretch in 2012, helping him land a $3.2 million salary for 2013.

Mujica will receive a nice little raise in Boston. Fortunately for the Red Sox, they’re not paying by the strike.

Ellsbury reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal with the Yankees on Tuesday, adding a little extra sizzle to the Boston-New York rivalry that has grown a bit stale in recent years.

It’s unclear exactly how much Ellsbury will receive as part of his new contract with the Yankees. Reports indicated Tuesday that the deal is worth $153 million, although Yahoo! Sports Tim Brown has since reported that Ellsbury is guaranteed $148 million over the first seven years of the contract, which he says includes a $21 million option for an eighth year that comes with a $5 million buyout.

Whatever the case, Ellsbury is getting a lot of money to join the Red Sox’ most hated rival, which, like anything these days, set off a social media firestorm. As my colleague, Mike Cole, so eloquently pointed out, both fan bases have been trying to make sense of their team’s actions, when, in reality, the only thing that we really know for certain right now is that Ellsbury is going to be filthy rich.

This entire situation is just so juicy, though. So let’s bite into some leftover thoughts on Ellsbury’s reported deal.

First of all, is anyone really, truly, genuinely shocked by this whole thing?

We all knew that Ellsbury was going to put himself into a position to earn a hefty contract with a good 2013 season. And guess what? He had a very good 2013 season. The man deserves to get paid, and it was simply a matter of which team would give in to Scott Boras’ huge demands.

Remember, it only takes one.

Sure, the idea of Ellsbury donning pinstripes is a bit wild — just like the idea of Johnny Damon, Kevin Youkilis and other revered Red Sox players crossing over once was. The fact of the matter, however, is that this is life.

Calling Ellsbury a traitor — or “trader,” according to some Internet Spelling Bee champs — is dumb. While Red Sox fans have every right to be upset about losing a very talented, homegrown player who contributed to two World Series titles, there shouldn’t be any extra ill will because he joined the Yankees. The man was handed a far better offer, and he took it. Most people would do the same.

Ellsbury gave the Red Sox seven good years. Now, he’s doing what’s best for his family. There’s certainly no shame in that.

Ellsbury got his Carl Crawford-esque deal. Now, he must avoid a Crawford-like collapse.

My guess is that Ellsbury will be a very productive player in New York. You could make the case that Crawford was an even better player when he signed his contract with the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season than Ellsbury is right now, but there’s absolutely a mental hurdle that a player must clear in order to thrive in a big market. Crawford couldn’t clear that hurdle in going from Tampa Bay to Boston. Ellsbury already has cleared that hurdle in his career and should enjoy a seamless transition in going from Beantown to the Bronx.

Ellsbury, a career .301 hitter (40-for-133) in the playoffs, is coming off another strong postseason, during which he hit .344 (22-for-64) with a .408 on-base percentage. His propensity for stepping up in October probably held some weight in his negotiations with the Yankees.

If you think that Ellsbury is going to replicate his 32-homer, 105-RBI outburst of 2011 any time soon, you obviously think very highly of him. Or you smoke too much pot.

Ellsbury’s ceiling is probably more in line with what we saw in 2013, although it’s reasonable to expect some uptick in power, at least over the first few years of his deal. It’s all about Yankee Stadium’s short porch.

Ellsbury has four home runs in 33 career games at the new Yankee Stadium. That would equate to 9.82 homers (let’s call it 10) over the course of 81 regular season games in his new home park.

Damon saw a spike in power after joining the Yankees at age 32. The first three years of his New York tenure came in the old Yankee Stadium, but he still matched a career-high with 24 homers at age 35 in the new park in 2009. Ellsbury will probably have a few more balls clear the fence, even if he’s not jacking 32 bombs any time soon.

So is Ellsbury really worth roughly $22 million per year?

Not in my opinion.

Yes, he’s extremely talented. Yes, he should be productive in New York. And yes, he makes the Yankees better. But — and this is one man’s opinion — a nine-figure contract is easier to justify when it’s given to a bona fide run producer/someone hitting in the middle of the order.

There’s also Ellsbury’s injury history.

It’s unfair to label him “soft,” given the nature of his injuries. It’s totally fair to be concerned about his past ailments when negotiating such a big contract.

ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes reports that the Red Sox offered Ellsbury a five-year, $100 million contract during negotiations and were willing to offer a six-year deal worth somewhere in the vicinity of $120 million.

The Red Sox are better off for walking away from the table. Boston’s approach of sticking to shorter deals — even if it means overpaying in terms of average annual salaries — while focusing on developing homegrown talent makes total sense. There’s no need to revert back to old ways that proved problematic in the past. (See Crawford, Carl.)

This is especially true because the Red Sox have a young (and cost-efficient) replacement in Jackie Bradley Jr. waiting in the wings. Bradley isn’t going to replace Ellsbury’s offensive production in Year 1 — or perhaps ever — but he’s a viable center field option for 2014 who should even represent an upgrade defensively at some point down the road. He lessens the blow of losing Ellsbury at least a little bit — or at least enough to dissuade Boston from going to crazy extremes to re-sign the 30-year-old.

Despite Boston having been done in by large contracts in the past, there were still some Red Sox fans clamoring for the club to hand Ellsbury a lengthy, lucrative deal. Then again, those same people would probably rip Ben Cherington for the move the first time Ellsbury landed on the DL.

Oh, sports.

What is Robinson Cano thinking right now?

Cano’s demands — reportedly for 10 years at $310 million, and then for nine years at $252 million — are outlandish, yet a monster deal for the second baseman seems even more justifiable in the wake of Ellsbury’s deal.

If the Yankees are still trying to talk Cano down to a contract in the $160-$180 million range, they didn’t do themselves any favors in reportedly signing Ellsbury to a deal around $150 million.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, New York Yankees, Opinion, Ricky Doyle, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/12/jacoby-ellsbury-wont-pull-a-carl-crawford-and-other-thoughts-on-outfielders-reported-deal-with-yankees/feed/00nesnrdoyleJacoby EllsburyJacoby Ellsbury’s Reported Signing Represents an Ill-Advised Act of Desperation by Yankeeshttp://nesn.com/2013/12/jacoby-ellsburys-reported-signing-represents-an-ill-advised-act-of-desperation-by-yankees/
http://nesn.com/2013/12/jacoby-ellsburys-reported-signing-represents-an-ill-advised-act-of-desperation-by-yankees/#respondWed, 04 Dec 2013 19:29:10 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=260733Read More »]]>Hats off to the Red Sox for standing up from the table, pushing in their chair and heading over to the nearest cashier.

As the always soulful Kenny Rogers once said, “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” And when it came to Jacoby Ellsbury’s contract negotiations, the Red Sox understandably weren’t willing gamble, whereas the Yankees frantically let it ride in an ill-advised act of desperation.

No one is disputing that Ellsbury is a dynamic player whose presence should make the Yankees a better team. But when it comes to today’s business of baseball, the Red Sox have the right idea, while the Yankees are, well, being the Yankees, which in this particular instance involves shelling out the third-largest contract ever given to an outfielder to a player who — despite his immense talent — comes with some questions.­ (Manny Ramirez and Matt Kemp are the only two outfielders to earn bigger contracts in terms of total dollars.)

Ellsbury’s biggest asset is his speed. It’s reasonable to think that he won’t be as fleet-footed in 2020 (when his reported deal expires), although as FanGraphs’ Dave Cameron points out, players with Ellsbury’s skill set typically age well in their 30s. Regardless, even at his peak, is Ellsbury worth close to $22 million per season?

The answer — at least in one writer’s opinion — is a resounding “no.” The 2011 version of Ellsbury that clocked 32 homers, drove in 105 runs, hit .321 and swiped 39 bags is worthy of such a salary, but that campaign looks like an aberration. While Ellsbury should see an uptick in his power numbers playing in lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium, expecting him to suddenly match his ridiculous 2011 totals as he enters his 30s is lunacy.

Maybe the Yankees think that the real Ellsbury, who is now the 14th-highest-paid player in baseball, is truly worth $153 million over the next seven years. In which case, all the power to them. But the deal also seems like a knee-jerk response to everything that has transpired over the last few months, including reports that surfaced Tuesday stating that Carlos Beltran has a three-year, $48 million offer in hand and could end up signing with the Royals.

In many ways, signing Ellsbury on the heels of signing Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract is similar to the Yankees’ offseason splurge prior to the 2009 season, when New York inked Mark Teixeira (eight years, $180 million), CC Sabathia (seven years, $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five years, $82.5 million) to deals that totaled $423.5 million. It worked to some extent, as the Yankees captured a World Series title that season, but repeating the feat should be even more difficult this time around. The AL East is stronger top to bottom, the quality of incoming players is lesser — no disrespect to Ellsbury and McCann — and the Yankees still have numerous issues unresolved.

For one, Ellsbury’s signing only complicates matters with second baseman Robinson Cano, who is currently a free agent. The two sides have seemingly been in a pissing contest this offseason, and watching New York sign Ellsbury to a seven-year, $153 million deal is hardly going to make Cano come down on his crazy demands. If anything, it makes his demands seem more reasonable — or least more justifiable at the bargaining table.

Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that the Yankees believe they still have room for Cano or free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and a starting pitcher in the wake of signing Ellsbury. It’s hard to imagine New York getting under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold, though, and going over will result in a penalty — something that Brian Cashman would like to avoid, if possible.

Oh yeah, and there’s the whole draft pick thing. Because Ellsbury and McCann were extended qualifying offers by the Red Sox and Braves, respectively, the Yankees, by virtue of signing both, have now lost their first- and second-round picks for the upcoming draft. It isn’t a massive setback given that the club will recoup draft picks if Cano, Curtis Granderson and/or Hiroki Kuroda sign elsewhere, but stockpiling picks should be a priority for an organization with a depleted farm system, like the Yankees.

Who knows? Maybe Ellsbury will go to the Bronx and evolve into an elite player — not just an elite leadoff man or an elite center fielder — thus rewarding the Yankees for what seems like a wild gamble. But given the surplus of lengthy contracts that have backfired recently, the Red Sox should take pride in their willingness to play things safe, no matter how enticing the idea of keeping Ellsbury in Boston was.

Desperate teams do desperate things, and the Yankees are on tilt right now while the Red Sox are waltzing around the casino in a calm, cool and collected manner.

“If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less.”

The man Guillen was referring to reportedly is the Red Sox’ new starting catcher, A.J. Pierzynski. For the better part of 16 years, Pierzynski has ticked off major leaguers left and right, earning him the title of “Baseball’s Most Hated Player” as recently as 2012. It makes for good hardball chatter, no doubt, but when you sift through the negative perception that surrounds Pierzynski, you’ll see that his dubious reputation is probably the least of the Red Sox’ concerns as they prepare to enter the 2014 season with him behind the dish.

The whole “Pierzynski is a jerk” crusade is nothing new. It’s been going on for years, and by now, it’s something that both he and those who have actually formed a relationship with him — like David Ortiz — have learned to deal with. After all, anyone can become a villain in the eyes of the public if the war against the player gains enough traction.

“People like to stamp guys from the beginning,” Ortiz, who was Pierzynski’s teammate in Minnesota from 1998 to 2002, told Sports Illustrated in 2012. “One guy says it, and then everyone else follows what that guy says, and then, boom.”

There’s a great deal of truth to Ortiz’s logic. First impressions are certainly something. If someone tells me that you’re a jerk, I’m going into things prepared for the worst. Sorry, it’s just the way my brain operates, and surely, a lot of other brains out there operate in the same manner. (If you, personally, enter every little thing with a clean slate, well, I guess you’re a better human than me.)

First impressions are not everything, however. Just because someone says you’re a jerk and I’m going into things prepared for you to be a jerk doesn’t mean that I’m actually going to end up thinking you’re a jerk at the end of the day. You know what I mean? Sure, you might be working on a short leash with me, but I’m not writing you off completely based on what someone else says. And, really, all I can ask is that everyone else give me the same leeway when they hear that I’m a jerk — which is probably often.

But moral values and what not aside, we mustn’t look any further than the 2013 Red Sox for proof that everything isn’t always as it seems. Perceptions change, often for the better.

Jake Peavy, whose now famous duck boat purchase was inspired by Jonny Gomes, told the Boston Herald shortly after the Red Sox’ World Series celebration that he didn’t always view the outfielder in a positive light. In fact, he hated the guy.

“He was literally the first person I saw when I walked into the clubhouse,” Peavy reportedly said of his first day in Boston. “And I have to say I didn’t have the fondest of thoughts in my head about Jonny Gomes. Just playing against him, I thought he was a lot of show.

“I wasn’t crazy about him at all. But I soon found out he has this talent for bringing out the best in a team. When you don’t play with guys, you don’t get to know them.”

Peavy got to know Gomes. Peavy’s teammates got to know Gomes. And Boston sure as hell got to know Gomes, whose passion and grit made him a fan favorite despite any preconceived notions.

“I told them Jonny Gomes might be my favorite player in the big leagues,” Peavy said on Aug. 3 after an all-out effort from his once-hated teammate.

Oh, how things change.

Is the perception of Pierzynski suddenly going to change in Boston? Probably not on a league-wide basis, mainly for the reasons that Ortiz outlined. But the perception of him could change amongst Red Sox fans, who will now watch their team go to battle alongside one of the league’s biggest “villains.”

“I don’t know what people expect me to be like,” Pierzynski told ESPN The Magazine earlier this year. “I think the media can decide you’re either a bad guy or a good guy, and they can keep pounding it until everyone thinks it’s true. I get tired of the crap. Every day you read the newspaper, you have to hope that somebody didn’t say something or write something that’ll make you have to defend yourself.”

Pierzynski’s right. His reputation isn’t sparkling. But these days, whose is? If there are any concerns — and there should be a few — about the Red Sox’ reported signing of the mercurial backstop, they should lie mostly in what he brings to the table on the diamond.

Surely, you’ve seen the commercials; a group of guys with overemphasized Boston accents sitting around talking about “The Hopper,” which apparently is some home-wide DVR thingamajig. Now, the fellows, equipped with their Boston accents, could, theoretically, be referencing a member of the Red Sox.

The Sox acquired right-handed reliever Burke Badenhop — aka “The Hopper” — from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for minor league pitcher Luis Ortega. The move put the Red Sox’ 40-man roster at exactly 40, and Badenhop, who is arbitration-eligible for the final time, is projected to earn $2.1 million.

Badenhop brings more than just a nifty name, too. The 30-year-old features good command and is tough on right-handed hitters, making him a nice addition to Boston’s bullpen given the low cost of acquisition.

Badenhop is coming off a season in which he went 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA (24 earned runs in 62 1/3 innings pitched) over 63 relief appearances with Milwaukee. He was particularly strong down the stretch, posting a 2.05 ERA (five earned runs in 22 innings) over his final 21 appearances.

The career numbers for Badenhop aren’t staggering. He had a career-best 3.03 ERA in 66 appearances with Tampa Bay in 2012, and his 2013 WHIP of 1.19 marks his best to date. But if used in the right situations, the veteran could provide the Red Sox with meaningful innings in 2014.

As mentioned, Badenhop is solid against righties. Right-handed batters hit just .229 (35-for-153) against him in 2013, and have hit .254 (218-for-858) against him throughout his six-year career. Righties have hit .234 (74-for-316) against Badenhop over the last two seasons combined.

In fact, the last two seasons have been Badenhop’s best, and his ability to keep the ball down is a big reason why — something that should play well in Fenway Park. He and Giants closer Sergio Romo are the only two pitchers to appear in at least 60 games while allowing less than one home run per nine innings and two walks per nine innings in both 2012 and 2013. Opposing hitters have grounded into 16 double plays with Badenhop on the mound since the start of 2012, which ranks 10th among major league relievers. In 2011, Badenhop’s 58.5 percent ground-ball rate ranked eighth among National League relievers.

Red Sox fans might really come to love Badenhop’s control, though. The 6-foot-5 hurler pounds the strike zone, evidenced by his 1.7 walks per nine innings since the start of 2012 — fifth among major league relievers with at least 115 innings in that span.

Additionally, Badenhop has posted a 2.59 ERA (12 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings) in 43 career appearances against AL East opponents — mainly stemming from his 2012 stint with the Rays.

The Red Sox, by no means, acquired a world-beater in Badenhop. So in a sense, it’s a rather ho-hum move when you consider the juiciness of the MLB offseason. But Badenhop is a piece that could help comprise a well-constructed puzzle if all goes right.

If you’re experiencing a sense of déjà vu this winter, you’re not alone. There were Beltran-to-Boston rumors in 2004, when he was a 27-year-old five-tool center fielder. And there were more rumors in 2011, when Beltran was a 34-year-old power-hitting corner outfielder seemingly locked in a dogfight with Father Time. Now, with the calendar about to flip to 2014, the aging slugger is still a desirable option for many teams, including the Red Sox.

But is Beltran a fit for Boston?

That’s the question the Red Sox are undoubtedly asking themselves as the hot stove continues to go from lukewarm to sizzling. The answer really depends on what else Boston has in mind this winter.

In a vacuum, Beltran would look good in a Sox uniform. While he’s no young pup — he’ll be 37 in April — he still has power, which is at a premium these days, and he’s a proven playoff performer with a competitive edge. Teams can’t win solely on the latter, but the 2013 Red Sox showed that there’s some value to having a cohesive team comprised of high-character players.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how Beltran would factor into Boston’s 2014 mix, though. Ben Cherington stated earlier this offseason that the Red Sox would be open to moving Victorino to center field, where he played primarily until 2012, but the GM also noted that such a shift would only occur if a “compelling opportunity” presented itself. The idea of Beltran in right field isn’t too compelling from a defensive standpoint.

In all likelihood, Beltran would play left field if he signed with the Red Sox, as right field at Fenway Park is no place for someone with diminished defensive tools, particularly range. Beltran’s minus-15.3 UZR (which is a defensive metric that estimates a fielder’s defensive contribution in theoretical runs above or below an average fielder at his position in that player’s league and year) ranked 18th among 18 qualified right fielders in 2013. For comparison, Victorino ranked second in the majors with a 25 UZR, and the average mark is established as zero. In other words, Beltran is not a very good defender.

Beltran playing left field would obviously have implications for Daniel Nava, Jonny Gomes and Mike Carp, who would all be jockeying for playing time in some capacity. Jackie Bradley Jr. would likely serve as the Red Sox’ center fielder, as signing Beltran could accompany the end of Jacoby Ellsbury’s tenure in Boston. It’s reasonable to think that signing Beltran could also be a move to counteract the loss of Mike Napoli, who, like Ellsbury, is testing the free-agent market.

Beltran could be the Red Sox’ everyday left fielder while some combination of Nava and Carp mans first base in 2014. Gomes would, in essence, be Boston’s fourth outfielder, although he’s pretty much restrained to left field. If this is the approach, then signing Beltran makes sense, as the Red Sox will absolutely need a middle-of-the-order presence to replace Napoli. Beltran is the best such option despite his position.

If Napoli re-signs with the Red Sox, however, the team’s pursuit of Beltran becomes more difficult to figure out. The Red Sox were very pleased with how their platoon situation in left field worked out in 2013, so scrapping that plan for 2014 seems like a leap. So does shifting Victorino to center field and plugging Beltran into right field. Not only are Beltran’s best days as a defender behind him (as mentioned), but Victorino’s defensive prowess is perfect for right field at Fenway Park. In fact, Victorino was relatively unimpressive when he did shift over to center field in 2013, although it was admittedly a small sample size.

Essentially, it boils down to this. Beltran is still an offensive force. He has slugged 56 home runs over the last two seasons, and is coming off a year in which he posted a .296/.339/.491 line to go with 84 RBIs. He’d be a nice addition to any lineup, even one as good as Boston’s, but he’s probably best-fitted for an American League club in which he can smoothly transition to DH at some point. (The Red Sox already have a pretty good one of those for at least 2014, and perhaps beyond.)

If Napoli signs elsewhere, signing Beltran makes much more sense, particularly if the Red Sox don’t plan to pursue first baseman Corey Hart or explore other external first-base options. If Napoli stays put, which the Red Sox should absolutely make an effort to ensure, Beltran represents somewhat of a strange fit despite his offensive skill.

Every indication from the Red Sox this offseason has been that they want Mike Napoli back as their first baseman in 2014, and every indication from Napoli has been that he loves playing in Boston. But free agency is a strange place, and the Red Sox must prepare for the possibility of Napoli signing elsewhere, hence their reported interest in Corey Hart.

And you know what? Hart represents a solid Plan B for Boston, even though an emphasis should still be placed on re-signing Napoli this offseason.

Hart is a classic buy-low candidate. He missed all of 2013 following surgery on both of his knees, so there’s inherently some risk involved, yet the 31-year-old comes with enough upside that a one-year, incentive-laden deal is a worthwhile consideration, especially for a team in the Red Sox’ position.

Napoli put together a strong 2013 season. He stayed healthy despite being diagnosed with a hip condition last winter, and he proved capable of thriving in a big role on a big stage in a big market. That’s big, and therefore, so too should be the Red Sox’ effort to re-sign the slugger. It’s just that supply and demand could ultimately make a reunion somewhat problematic, as Napoli is the best first baseman available and a proven source of power within a market that isn’t exactly General Electric.

If Napoli walks away, Hart should waltz in — assuming his knees are up for it. While Hart sat out all of 2013, he posted respectable numbers — particularly in the all-important power department — throughout the rest of his nine-year major league career. Hart hit .270 with 30 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2012. He racked up a career-high 31 blasts and 102 RBIs in 2010 — the second of two All-Star campaigns for the career-long Milwaukee Brewer — and has slugged over .500 in each of his last three seasons on the diamond. Hart doesn’t have Napoli’s on-base ability or defensive aptitude, but there’s certainly a chance that, if healthy, he could provide the same right-handed power prowess.

Clearly, going from Napoli to Hart entails an overall drop-off, particularly for a club, like the Red Sox, that prides itself on driving up pitch counts. But again, that’s why Napoli is Plan A and Hart is — or should be — Plan B. And you could do worse than Hart as a Plan B, mainly because the potential reward far outweighs the risk.

The Red Sox will likely need to dive into the free-agent market if Napoli leaves town, as first base is one area in which Boston lacks minor league depth. The real selling point for Hart, who has apparently dropped 20 pounds and says he’s capable of returning to the outfield if necessary, is that he wouldn’t be a crazy expenditure.

Hart turns 32 in March, so it’s reasonable to think that he’ll go down the same road that Napoli went last offseason and accept a one-year deal that would give him the opportunity to reestablish some value with a strong season. If that is indeed the case, signing Hart makes more sense than signing someone like, say, Kendrys Morales, who might command a multiyear deal, in addition to requiring that his signing team part ways with a draft pick by virtue of the Mariners’ qualifying offer. James Loney and Justin Morneau are two other free-agent options, but they’re both left-handed hitters, something that isn’t ideal in the case of Boston.

The Red Sox aren’t the only team that needs a first baseman this offseason. They are, however, in an enviable position of having both Mike Carp and Daniel Nava already on their major league roster. While Ben Cherington would probably prefer to open up the 2014 season with someone beyond that tandem manning first base, the presence of both Carp and Nava at least allows the Red Sox to feel a little better about rolling the dice on a buy-low option with an injury risk.

For now, the Red Sox should keep a dialogue going with Napoli and do what they can to keep him around. In the event that talks sour or something unforeseen happens, however, Boston could be where the Hart is.

Boras is reportedly using Carl Crawford’s seven-year, $142 million contract as a benchmark in negotiations regarding Ellsbury. His sales pitch is that Ellsbury is a more valuable commodity now than Crawford was when he signed his monstrous contract prior to the 2011 season.

“Two things separate Ellsbury [from Crawford]. Carl Crawford was never proven as a leadoff hitter, and Carl Crawford is not a center fielder,” Boras told CBSSports.com back in September. “They are two different animals. It’s not a consideration because he’s a corner outfielder. Just think if Carl Crawford could play center field.”

The funny thing is that Boras is right in that respect. Ellsbury — while a year older than Crawford was at the time of his deal — features a comparable skill set, yet also comes with the added luxury of playing a premium position and having experience hitting atop the order. None of this even takes into account Ellsbury’s track record of performing on the big stage within a big market, something that should sit well in the minds of interested teams this winter.

Boras is still being rather selective, though, and it’s what ultimately makes a Crawford-sized contract seem somewhat crazy. While Ellsbury holds an advantage over Crawford in certain areas of his resume, there are other areas that Boras will absolutely look to sweep under the rug at the bargaining table.

In placing Ellsbury above Crawford, Boras fails to acknowledge the elephant in the room: Ellsbury’s durability. Sure, as Boras has stated, Ellsbury’s injuries were mostly beyond the center fielder’s control, thus resulting in an unfair “soft” label. But it doesn’t change the fact that Ellsbury missed a big chunk of two seasons (2010 and 2012) and also dealt with a foot fracture toward the end of this regular season. Crawford averaged 144.8 games a year in his six seasons prior to hitting the open market, while Ellsbury averaged 113.7 games in his six full seasons with Boston.

Boras is also (understandably) trying to use Ellsbury’s 32-homer, 105-RBI outburst in 2011 to his advantage, when in reality, Crawford featured a tick more power. Crawford totaled six double-digit home run seasons before hitting free agency, while Ellsbury’s MVP runner-up campaign in 2011 marks the only time in his career that he has hit at least 10 bombs.

If anything, Crawford’s edge in durability, consistency and overall run production help to offset the benefits provided by Ellsbury’s position and lineup spot, and, at the end of the day, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more rational comparison of two outfielders in free agency. The following average stat line from each player’s final three seasons before free agency (pointed out by ESPN.com) paints a pretty good picture of the outfielders’ similar production.

So does this then mean that Ellsbury is worth $142 million, like Crawford? Boras can certainly argue such based on the comparison, but it should continue to be a difficult sell for two reasons.

1) Crawford actually represented a safer bet back when he signed his deal than Ellsbury represents now. It sounds crazy given Crawford’s past two seasons, but signing Ellsbury for nine figures requires a bigger leap of faith for reasons mentioned — injury history, age and lack of power. After all, Ellsbury could see a significant regression as his speed deteriorates, thus leading to some frustrating years toward the tail end of his next deal.

And

2) Despite the league being in a better place financially, teams appear less willing to dole out massive contracts now than they were three years ago. Not only has a make-it-rain method to free agency proven fruitless on a number of occasions, but we’re also coming off a season in which the Red Sox — a team that added multiple mid-level free agents last offseason — won the World Series. It seems that Boston’s approach has become somewhat of a model — not crazy spending sprees.

While it’s entirely possible that Boras will ultimately land the contract for Ellsbury that he so desperately seeks, it’s hard to imagine why a team would make such a sizable commitment with the benefit of hindsight. Crawford’s contract is grotesque, and teams shouldn’t be in any hurry to duplicate that disaster, despite how enticing the idea of adding – or keeping, in the case of the Red Sox – Ellsbury might be.

Then again, it only takes one team to overpay. So keep doing you, Mr. Boras. It is your job.

Sure, John Farrell probably should have been named American League Manager of the Year. But Terry Francona winning the award is hardly unfair, certainly not unjust and absolutely not something worth getting all worked up about.

Both skippers killed it this season. They know this. Their players know this. Their superiors know this. Most level-headed baseball enthusiasts — even if they don’t agree with the verdict — also know this.

So, end of story, right? We’ve got a clear-cut winner and one hard-luck loser.

Well, not really.

Instead, tweets, Internet comments and sports talk radio calls have been filled with frustration since the results were announced shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday. And that frustration only increased after each BBWAA member’s ballot came to light.

The idea of Francona edging out Farrell shouldn’t be met with shock. We’re talking about an award based on regular-season accomplishments, and Tito’s work in Cleveland was impressive enough to at least warrant serious consideration — if not one’s vote. Not only did the Indians overachieve, but Francona also played a pivotal role in the Tribe’s surprising success. He helped change the clubhouse culture in Cleveland, and proved to be a valuable in-game strategist, especially in his handling of the Indians’ less-than-stellar pitching staff. Francona dealt with great obstacles in the way of both injuries and an overall lack of talent.

This isn’t to take anything away from Farrell, who also changed a clubhouse culture upon being hired as Red Sox manager. It’s simply to say that choosing Francona over Farrell is definitely reasonable — not something that can only be explained by pointing to some ulterior motive.

The biggest issue with the voting — clearly and understandably — is the absence of Farrell on two ballots, and, even more crazily, the exclusion of both Farrell and Francona on one ballot. But as certifiably insane as the latter scenario seems to most, is it really the worst thing that we’ve ever seen? After all, it didn’t really change anything.

Asuka Brown’s Farrell-less/Francona-less ballot is hard to fathom among those who watched Farrell orchestrate an epic worst-to-first turnaround in Boston or Francona spearhead a tremendous year of overachieving in Cleveland. But as dumb as it may sound, Brown is at least sticking to her guns and defending her decision based on logic that makes sense to her — even if it’s ludicrous to everyone else. In other words, it’s not as if she excluded Farrell and/or Francona out of spite or because of some personal vendetta. She had reasons that she felt strongly about, and thus, mashing our keyboards or wearing out our lungs with a constant barrage of tirades only runs the risk of popping blood vessels.

Do I agree with the overall decision or Brown’s ballot? Absolutely not. Yours truly would have voted Farrell, Francona and A’s manager Bob Melvin in that order.

But do I feel like we just witnessed a travesty? Not at all.

We see it all of the time with the Hall of Fame, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise when we see it in conjunction with MLB’s annual awards. Someone is going to cast a ballot that seems absurd to most — like, why are you voting for Jim Leyland, Mr. George King? — yet the overall results typically aren’t impacted all that much. And until they are, we’re left arguing an issue that’s minute in comparison to the other things that Major League Baseball has on its plate.

Take your pick. Francona or Farrell should have won the award, and they finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the voting. Let’s give each a pat on the back and move on until a couple of asinine ballots really throw things for a loop — which will probably never happen.

Right now, it’s unclear who will be the Red Sox’ starting catcher in 2014, although there are options beyond Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is currently a free agent. If Cherington approaches this offseason the same way as last offseason, it seems unlikely that there’s much to the A.J. Pierzynski rumor. Even if the Red Sox have “shown some interest” in Pierzynski, as reported by WEEI.com, the polarizing backstop ultimately represents a questionable fit.

The most obvious risk of signing Pierzynski involves his accompanying baggage. There’s a difference between having a colorful personality and having a personality that evokes disdain, and Pierzynski’s behavior seemingly strikes a chord. According to an August 2012 article on SI.com, Pierzynski has in his career been voted by his opponents as the player they would most like to see beaned (2006), baseball’s meanest player (2011) and baseball’s most hated player (2012). Men’s Journal polled 100 MLB players on various topics in 2012, and 34 percent of respondents voted Pierzynski the most hated player in the game.

Clearly, Pierzynski rubs some people the wrong way. And given the tremendous clubhouse chemistry of the 2013 Red Sox, adding an enigmatic player like Pierzynski threatens to disrupt a good thing. The real value or impact of chemistry has long been debated — mostly because it’s an immeasurable aspect of a sport knee-deep in number-crunching — but if there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that having each player on the same wavelength is a positive. The Red Sox didn’t win the World Series solely because of their chemistry, but the team’s overall sense of togetherness certainly didn’t hurt matters, either.

The Red Sox’ real concern regarding Pierzynski should go beyond his dubious reputation, though. After all, labels are often unfairly slapped on players. Pierzynski could have become the nicest guy in the world over the last year or so, and most would refuse to believe it simply because it goes against everything we’ve come to accept as truth. In other words, there’s really no turning back once a player — or any person on the planet, for that matter — gets labeled a jerk.

The Sox should be just as concerned about Pierzynski’s on-field performance, which, like his personality (or reputation of such), is far from an ideal match. The Red Sox’ offensive approach relies heavily on driving up pitch counts, getting on base and producing timely hits. Pierzynski’s free-swinging ways aren’t really conducive with such an approach and should thus bump him down the totem pole of free-agent catchers.

Pierzynski ranked dead last among qualified major leaguers with only 3.27 pitches seen per plate appearance in 2013. His .297 on-base percentage ranked 13th out of 15 big league catchers with at least 450 plate appearances, and his 11 walks were his lowest total since 2000, during which he only had 96 plate appearances as a 23-year-old backstop.

Pierzynski did smack 17 home runs and compile 70 RBIs with the Rangers in 2013, and he posted career-highs in home runs (27) and RBIs (77) with the White Sox in 2012, so it’s reasonable to expect some power, even with him turning 37 in December. His on-base ability remains an issue, though, and his lack of patience at the plate is concerning when you also factor in his below-average defensive skills.

The Red Sox might not sign a catcher over the next three days, and it’s entirely possible that Boston will eventually opt to keep the known commodity in Saltalamacchia. If the Sox plan to dive into the free-agent waters at some point, though, they shouldn’t do any more than dip their toes in the Pierzynski market — for reasons both inside and outside of the box score.